JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) 鈥� Josh Hines-Allen exited Jacksonville鈥檚 locker room quicker than normal following a crushing loss to Buffalo in the AFC playoffs.
He didn鈥檛 want to stick around for any emotional goodbyes.
The seventh-year edge rusher enjoyed that much and preferred to wait a day to deliver dozens of farewells to teammates and coaches.
鈥淲e fought all year. We battled,鈥� Hines-Allen said. 鈥淭his was the most fun I鈥檝e had in a very long time, and I鈥檝e got a lot of guys that can say the same thing. 鈥� This is a growing step for us, a growing moment.鈥�
The Jaguars (13-5) came up short against the Bills on Sunday, . Jacksonville believes the painful ending set the foundation for future playoff runs.
鈥淚t was a sturdy platform to kind of push off of and see how far we can really take this thing,鈥� receiver Jakobi Meyers said.
Buffalo鈥檚 Josh Allen was the difference in Jacksonville’s finale. But the Jaguars expect to see him again in future postseasons. They鈥檙e actually counting on it.
鈥淲e felt like this was our opportunity to go take advantage of it, and we didn鈥檛,鈥� Hines-Allen said. 鈥淏ut we鈥檝e got a lot of guys that are hungry. We鈥檙e going to attack this offseason, grow from this offseason and come back ready to win the whole thing next year.鈥�
Jacksonville and first-year head coach Liam Coen certainly raised the bar for next season by winning the franchise鈥檚 most games since 1999 as well as the AFC South for the third time in the past nine years.
Quarterback during the team鈥檚 eight-game winning streak. He made too many mistakes against Buffalo 鈥� two interceptions and a failed fourth down run in the red zone 鈥� but he also showed he鈥檚 capable of putting the offense on his back when needed.
He became the third quarterback in NFL history to deliver multiple go-ahead TD passes in the fourth quarter of a playoff loss, joining Allen (at Kansas City in 2021) and New Orleans鈥� Drew Brees (at San Francisco in 2011), according to ESPN Research.
Jacksonville鈥檚 defense couldn鈥檛 hold either lead, an issue that will be addressed in the coming months.
The Jaguars need extra edge rushers, more help at defensive tackle and probably a replacement for second-team All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd. Throw in potential secondary changes 鈥� Montaric Brown, fellow cornerback Greg 草莓传媒ome II and safety Andrew Wingard are pending free agents 鈥� and Jacksonville will try to run it back with a revamped roster.
鈥淚 have so much confidence in this group and the staff and the direction we鈥檙e heading,鈥� Lawrence said. 鈥淚 do feel like it鈥檚 sustainable. But you have to earn it every year. It鈥檚 not just going to happen.鈥�
Travis Hunter鈥檚 rehab and return
All eyes will be on two-way star Travis Hunter. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner from Colorado had surgery in November to repair a torn ligament in his right knee and is expected back before training camp.
But what role will Hunter have in 2026? Coen said it鈥檚 too premature to discuss whether Hunter will play both offense and defense again.
Jacksonville signed Meyers to a three-year, $60 million contract extension after Hunter’s injury and has emerging slot receiver Parker Washington and 2024 Pro Bowler Brian Thomas Jr. returning.
Playing Hunter as a full-time outside cornerback is an option, giving him the ability to replace Brown and/or 草莓传媒ome.
Other free agents expected to move on
Running back Travis Etienne totaled 1,399 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns in his fifth 鈥� and maybe final 鈥� season in Jacksonville. The Jaguars drafted potential replacements Bhayshul Tuten (fourth round) and LeQuint Allen (seventh) in 2025, and they have Lawrence鈥檚 cap number jumping to $24 million.
Receivers Dyami Brown and Tim Patrick along with defensive linemen Emmanuel Ogbah and Dawuane Smoot are unlikely to return after playing on one-year deals.
Next steps
The Jaguars expect to have both coordinators, Anthony Campanile on defense and Grant Udinski on offense, interview for head coaching jobs.
Campanile, 43, and Udinski, 30, just completed their first seasons as coordinators and showed potential during one of the most impressive turnarounds in NFL history; Jacksonville became the third team to win 13 or more games a year after losing 13 or more, joining 2025 New England and 1999 Indianapolis.
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